New York (VNA) – The Middle East conflict can only be solved through peaceful dialogue and negotiations in accordance with the principle of land for peace and relevant U.N. resolutions, taking into account the legitimate rights and interests of all parties concerned.

At the council’s debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestine question, in New York on March 25, Ambassador Le Luong Minh, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN Security Council, expressed deep concern about the deterioration of the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory where Israel’s military attacks and its construction of illegal settlements and the Wall in the West Bank continues.

“We remain deeply concerned about the fact that disregarding the repeated appeals of the international community, Israel has not loosened its restrictive measures in the Gaza Strip, causing an alarming toll of human lives, especially those of women and children, and numerous sufferings to the Palestinian population,” he said.

The ambassador went on to say that while condemning all attacks targeting innocent civilians in southern Israel , Vietnam cannot accept that this is being used to justify the above-mentioned illegal actions of Israel .

Viet Nam calls upon all parties concerned in the Middle East conflict to exercise maximum restraint and abide by international laws, including international humanitarian and human rights laws.

Ambassador Minh also called upon Israel to put an end to those actions and abide by the spirit of relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions in order to deescalate tension and appealed the international community to extend necessary emergency and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian residents.

Regarding the Lebanese issue, the Vietnamese representative welcomed certain positive developments that have been recorded in the implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006).

However, he expressed deep concern about the continuation of targeted attacks against Lebanese civilians and UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) personnel as well as about Israel ’s air violations and its occupation of the village of Ghajar on the northern side of the Blue Line.

“While supporting the efforts undertaken by the League of Arab States and the Government of Lebanon in advancing the political process, we urge all parties concerned to promote political dialogue, national reconciliation and proceed to the Presidential elections as planned,” Minh said.

The Vietnamese diplomat reaffirmed Vietnam ’s support for the role of the Quartet, the League of Arab States, regional countries and the United Nations, especially the Security Council, in the quest for a lasting solution to the Middle East conflict.